Willington manager Alan Shoulder has had his dismissal at Newcastle Benfield Saints earlier in the season quashed by Durham FA.

Shoulder was told to leave the dugout by the referee in Willington's game there in October, and in another incident involving Shoulder later in the game, the match was abandoned.

As by procedure, Shoulder's dismissal was reported to Durham FA, who summoned him to headquarters on Monday night for a hearing.

Willington chairman John Phelan said: "Durham FA said the case wasn't proven after considering the reports from everybody concerned, and they over ruled the sending off.

"Considering what has happened, we are wondering what is going to happen next regarding the abandonment."

The match referee abandoned the game early in the second half after Shoulder refused to move from his position behind the dug out, claiming the hadn't been sent off - a view which appears to have been vindicated.

Willington, meanwhile, have secured a minor sponsorship with businessman Paul Atkin, an old friend of chairman John Phelan.

Billingham Town have signed midfielder Jason Ainsley from Durham City.

Ainsley is a former Town player from over a decade ago, and joins Town after leaving previous club Spennymoor, whom he helped to promotion last season.

Manager Alan Robinson said: "We managed to sign him just before the seven day qualification rule for the Vase.

"We think he is a good signing, as he has got plenty of experience. He wil give us a lift for Saturday."

Town play Lincoln Moorlands from the Northern Counties East League tomorrow, and Robinson said: "They're an unknown quantity, and have done well to get this far."

Prudhoe manager Gavin Liddle was delighted with the points against his old club Washington Nissan on Saturday.

Prudhoe won the game 4-1 to put them into fourth place at the weekend, and Liddle said: "I told the players to treat the game like a cup final, and not to come back in the dressing room unless they won!

"The points put us with South Shields, but I think it's going to be really tight for promotion this season, because there are several clubs involved in the race."

Shildon are taking two busfuls of supporters to Oadby for their FA Vase third round tie tomorrow.

Cup tie fever has again gripped Shildon, who also reached the first round proper of the FA Cup.

Easington boss Peter Grasham was angry with some absent players after his team were thrashed 8-0 at Kennek Ryhope on Saturday.

"Some players who were at the club before I came didn't even have the decency to contact me to say that they weren't coming. They have gone back on their promise to give me a fortnight in the job before they made their minds up.

"I knew this was going to be a hard job when I took over, but I didn't need that."

However, Grasham had words of consolation for the other players who did turn up.

"They were only kids up against seasoned pros.

"I felt sorry for our keeper. He didn't have a chance with any of the goals, and he made some great saves. I made him man of the match for us.

"We played some good football, but some of the players were naive."

Chester-le-Street general manager Joe Burlison has revealed that they will be giving more of the club's youngsters an outing.

The club's youth side has done magnificently in progressing in the FA Youth Cup this season, and Burlison said: "Our manager, Stuart Sherwood, intends to give more of the youngsters a game. They have proved against other youth teams that they can do it, so a few of them will be appearing in the first team."

Crook's new manager Alan Oliver knows the size of the task facing him after his new team lost 4-0 at Consett last Saturday.

The defeat means that Crook dropped into the bottom two because of Norton's draw with Seaham, although every club in the bottom half of the table could be described as being in the relegation fight.

"I realise what I need to do after watching the team play," said Oliver, whose team now face two more away games after their midweek trip to Northallerton - at Alnwick and Ashington.

Jarrow Roofing were so short of players at Morpeth last Saturday that their manager and assistant manager had to play.

Because of injuries and unavailability, Roofing had just 14 registered players for the game, and then during the warm-up, two more pulled up with injuries.

Roofing manager and owner Richie McLoughlin said: "My assistant, Tony Metcalf, had to start the game, and he managed to last 72 minutes before I replaced him.

"We had two keepers in the 12, so one of them, Gary Hoggeth, played as an outfield player and did quite well."

Seaham Red Star have appointed Andy Boynton as their assistant manager to Peter Mulcaster.

Boynton was attached to Billingham Town and Norton for a number of years, and Mulcaster said: "Andy has got a lot of contacts in the league. and has the experience to help us."

Brandon keeper Barry Poskitt has won his appeal against his dismissal at Billingham Synthonia in October. Poskitt was red-carded in the first half for a professional foul when Synners were leading 2-0, and Brandon went on to lose 9-0. Durham FA has ruled that the sending off was a sufficient punishment.

Marske manager Peter Bell knows that his team needs to rediscover their winning form.

Marske have dropped to second bottom of the First Division after a run of 12 league games without a win, and now they are nine points adrift of fourth bottom West Auckland.

"There are still plenty of games left," said Bell, "but we have to start winning again soon.

"We have two very important games coming up in the next couple of weeks against West Auckland and Marske, and we have to win those to climb out of trouble."

Washington Nissan have added to their Irish contingent by signing Ryan Moore from Workington.

Moore's arrival means that there are three Irish lads on Nissan's books, all of them studying at Sunderland Polytechnic.

Manager Wilf Constantine signed Johnny Butler and Jimmy Farrell during the summer, and now full back Moore has signed Northern League forms.

Second Division Benfield Saints have signed midfielder Carl Heiniger from Seaham Red star.

Heiniger, once a Newcastle junior, made a name for himself last season by scoring for student outfit Team Bath in the FA Cup, but so far this season hasn't played regular football, despite being on trial at Darlington during the summer, and then being signed by Bishop Auckland, Durham and Seaham.

Evenwood have received a grant from the Football Foundation to help with their ground improvements at Welfare Park. Evenwood are considering another grant application, this time for changing rooms so then their junior sides can also be accommodated.

Brandon manager Kenny Lindoe believes his team is steadily improving despite going down 3-2 at Durham last weekend.

The defending champions have a lot of work to do to retain their title, but Lindoe said: "The improvement over recent weeks has been immense. Our game over recent years was to knock others off their perch, but we've been there to be shot at by others since we won the league.

"The team spirit is spot on, and the players are working hard for each other."

West Auckland manager Alex Mathie has signed three more players to strengthen his squad. He has signed midfielder Madhi Elfallah, who was a YTS with Rangers and played nine games for Scottish Second Division side Hamilton last season, Andy O'Shea from Darlington, and striker Jonathan Skinner from Ossett Town.

Second division bottom club Shotton are looking for a new manager following the resignation of Stan Cummins the day before their game against Alnwick last week. Anyone interested should contact secretary Billy Banks on 0191 5267134 or 07814 216433.

Assistant manager Dave Hall also resigned, only a week after taking on the job alongside Cummins.

Shotton only had 12 players for the Alnwick game, which they lost 3-2 to leave them eight points adrift of safety.

Durham manager Billy Cruddas reckons that the title race could develop into a two horse race.

City beat Brandon 3-2 last Saturday, and previous second placed club Whitley Bay lost 3-2 at Washington, allowing Bedlington to overtake them following their victory at Esh Winning.

"It's looking more and more that ourselves and Bedlington will be fighting it out for the title, although you can't completely rule some of the others out.

"I don't really consider Whitley Bay a threat, while the others have a lot of work to do.

"But it's still just before Christmas, and there's a long way to go yet."

TOMORROW'S fixtures: FA Vase third round: Billingham Town v Lincoln Moorlands, Desborough v Guisborough, Jarrow Roofing v Eastwood Town, Leamington v Durham City, Morpeth v Colne, Mossley v Whitley Bay, Oadby v Shildon, Warrington v West Allotment, Wellington v Billingham Synthonia

Division One: Bedlington v Dunston, Brandon v Chester-le-Street, Penrith v Esh Winning, Peterlee v Tow Law, Thornaby v Washington, West Auckland v Marske

Division Two: Alnwick v Crook Town, Easington v Consett, Hebburn v Kennek Ryhope CA, Newcastle Blue Star v Murton, Northallerton v Ashington, Seaham Red Star v Prudhoe, Shotton v Willington, South Shields v Norton, Washington Nissan v Newcastle Benfield Saints, Whickham v Evenwood.